You astutely point out the importance of sacrifice in our life in Christ. Frequently, when moderns hear the word “sacrifice,” the mind conjures images of blood, guts and inconvenience.
These outward things have nothing to do with sacrifice. Contrarily, love, truth and mercy are the things that make sacrifice worthy. In truth, “sacrifice” is a synonym for love and is thus necessary for all Christians.

SANTA FE (AP) — The state Court of Appeals has upheld the constitutionality of a law capping residential property tax valuation increases until a home changes ownership.
Had the court tossed out the law, it was possible that longtime New Mexico homeowners could have faced significant tax increases if their homes were reassessed and property values rose.

The Mega Millions jackpot is now the largest in U.S. lottery history.
Lottery officials say the jackpot reached $640 million Friday morning and likely will grow even bigger before tonight’s drawing. It has rolled 18 times since Marcia Adams of College Park, Ga. won $72 million in the Jan. 24 drawing.
A winner could get $19.2 million a year for 26 years or a single payment worth $359 million. The next drawing is at 9 p.m.
Previously, the largest jackpot was $390 million, won by two players in Georgia and New Jersey in March 2007.
The Mega Millions lottery is available in New Mexico and tickets can be purchased in Los Alamos and White Rock.

New research from the leading solar industry trade association indicates New Mexico sits atop national lists in two categories for installed megawatts of solar energy in 2011 and has moved up considerably in other areas.
The Solar Energy Industries Association’s most recent Solar Market Insight Report, which presents an annual perspective on the country’s solar energy production, shows that New Mexico reached 166.9 megawatts of cumulative installed solar electric generation. This is equal to 77.3 watts of installed solar power per state resident last year.
At 77.3 watts per capita, New Mexico is first in the U.S. in the amount of solar per person. The state also ranked first for 2011 per capita additions of solar generation.

Los Alamos National Laboratory has awarded a master task order agreement for up to $250 million to three small businesses with offices in Northern New Mexico.
The agreement is for services related to the transportation and disposal of hazardous and radioactive waste.
The companies include ARS Cavanagh Environmental Services, LLC; Portage, Inc. and Navarro Research and Engineering, Inc.
“Safely handling and transporting waste containers is an important part of our environmental cleanup efforts at Los Alamos,” said Pete Maggiore, assistant manager for the National Nuclear Security Administration’s Los Alamos Site Office Environmental Projects Office.

An unidentified male Los Alamos High School student is charged with battery on a school employee after reportedly shoving a teacher.
According to a Los Alamos Police Department incident report written by School Resource Officer Jordan Redmond, at 11:46 a.m. March 22, school administration called for help with a teacher dealing with a “belligerent” student.
The administration alleged that there had been an incident in the commons areas of the A wing, in which a student pushed math teacher Joy Handsberry after she confronted the student regarding his behavior.

The county’s new Economic Vitality Administrator Greg Fisher discussed various economic development incentives with council Tuesday evening.

“One of the main concerns in all the county’s strategic goals, is that we need to grow the population,” Fisher said.

He recommended going for the “low hanging fruit.”

“It’s interesting to be in a community where there are more jobs than there are people. There are 7,000 or 8,000 people climbing the mountain every day to come here to work. It’s a great opportunity to get them to live here,” he said.